Prefabricated subdividable surgical splint



Feb. 2, 1954 A. SMYTH PREFABRICATED SUBDIVIDABLE SURGICAL S PLINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1953 INVENTOR.

LEO A. SMYTH BY wfln yl ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1954 L. A. SMYTH 2,667,868

PREFABRICATED SUBDIVIDABLE SURGICAL SPLINT Filed Jan. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LEO A. SMYTH Patented Feb. 2, 1954 'PREFABRICATED "SUBDIVIDABLE SURGICAL PLINT Smr hi Wyoming, Ohi assignor-ofm'ty per cent tollarry .S Shafier, Glendale, Ohio Application January 21, 1953; Serial No. 382,415

This invention relates: to smigical splints and more particularly toasubdividab-le, prefabricated surgical splint of the type which mayheconveniently .carried by a doctor, and from which smaller splints may be severed by means of :a scissors, knife or the like.

.An object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated surgical splint tvhich includes c8, plurality of elongate splint :elementssuitably secured, in an orderly side-by-side arrangement, to a flexible carrier sheet vawdbct'or will not be put to the trouble of having to make up individual splints-when the need forasplintoccurs. By using my prefabricated splint, means are always readily available-to the doctor from. which tailormade splints may be quickly fashioned with a minimum of time and effort.

Another objecto'fthe invention is to provide a. subdividable, prefabricated surgical splint which comprises a rpluralityiofaelongate splint elements which are secured to and carried by :a flexible carrier sheet, in such :a manner-as to facilitate compact rolling of the splint for purposes of storage and/ or transportation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated splint havin the hereinabove described characteristics, which is highly efficient, durable and inexpensive.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of .a subdivisible, prefabricated surgical splint embodying the teachings of the present invention, one corner of which has been broken away, for clarity of detail and understanding.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the splint of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the splint of Fig. 1 in a fully compacted or rolled condition for transportation and/or storage.

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of a splint similar to that of Fig. 1, from which a smaller splint has been severed.

Fig. 5 is a plan View showing the smaller splint severed from the larger splint of Fig. 4 as applied to an index finger.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified type of subdivisible prefabricated surgical splint embodying the teachings of the present invention, parts of which have been opened up and broken away for clarity of detail and understanding.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the splint of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of still another modification of my splint.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the splint of Fig. 8.

'With reference now to Fig. l, the numerals ii denote a plurality of individual, elongate splint elements or rods fabricated from-any suitablematerial such as, by way of example, wood, plastic or :the like. In the preferred .embodiment'of the invention, I prefer to utilize splint elements or rods It which are substantially circular in cross section for making splints suitable for on fingers and toes.

The numeral 1 2 denotes a flexible carrier sheet which, in the preferred embodimentoftheinvention, is substantially inelastic. An adhes'iye, :denoted generally by the numeral M, is-apmlied to and carried by one face of carrier sheet 12, for presenting an adhesive surface engageable by the splint elements 1.9, said adhesive serving to securely bond the individual splint elements to the carrier sheet.

As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the adjacent edges of the individual splint elements In may be disposed in abutting relationshipin those instances when the carrier sheet-l2 is in a flat condition. It will likewise be noted that" each of the varioussplint elements is secured by sub stantial lline contact to the carrier sheet to they are bonded.

The resultant splint may. be rolled, .as best illustrated in'Fig. 3, for providing 'azcompacttipacka age or unit whiehmay be easily stored untransported.

It-should be understood thatthexoverall dimensions of the composite prefabricated splint of Fig. 1 may be of any'convenient size-whereby to enable it to be carried in a doctors hand-bag, coat pocket, or the like.

In use, the larger splint may be cut for -sub dividing it into smaller splints each comprising a plurality of shorter splint elements I0 secured to and carried by a flexible carrier sheet, for thereby providing a tailor-made splint for the injured part of the body, such as, by way of example, the forefinger, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modified type of subdividable prefabricated splint which differs from that illustrated in Fig. 1, in that it comprises two carrier sheets, an upper sheet 22 and a lower sheet [2, said sheets both being provided with an adhesive coating I4 for bonding the individual splint elements or rods I0 to and between the sheets in side-by-side relationship. As best illustrated in Fig. 7, it will be noted that carrier sheets l2 and 22 are disposed in substantial parallelism.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a heavy duty type of subdividable prefabricated surgical splint which adapted for use on the limbs and torso. This splint diifers from the splints of Figs. 1 and 6, primarily in the structural characteristics of the various elongate splint elements or rods l6, which may be substantially rectangular in outline and heavier throughout for providing greater rigidity and strength. The individual splint elements or rods I6 may, like rods Ill, be securely bonded to carrier sheet 12 by means of an adhesive M or other suitable means. The resultant prefabricated splint may be rolled in a manner similar to Fig. 3 for ease of transportation and/or storage.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I l using a scissors, knife or the like for thereby enabling a doctor to quickly obtain a well-built custom-made splint without having to actually Y construct the splint at the time of treating the patient, as has heretofore been the common practice. It will likewise be noted that the carrier sheet maintains the individual splint elements in prearranged relationship, thereby further enhancing the overall utility of my splint.

As best illustrated in Fig. 5, the carrier sheet l2 may be placed adjacent that part of the anatomy to be bound up for precluding actual contact of the various splint elements W with the body while obtaining all the beneficial effects thereof. Actual tests have conclusively demonstrated that the carrier sheet greatly enhances the reinforcing effect of the splint rods.

While I have earlier indicated that in the preferred embodiment of the invention the flexible carrier sheet 12 is substantially inelastic, such preference should not be considered as excluding the use of an elastic carrier sheet as a modification of the invention, since in certain applications I prefer to utilize a splint wherein the carrier sheet I2 is comprised of elastic material. By using an elastic carrier sheet, it is possible to apply splints under tension, which is highly desirable in certain instances.

It should likewise be understood that in those instances wherein I provide an upper and a lower carrier sheet, note Figs. 6 and 7, my invention contemplates making both of the carrier sheets l2 and 22 of inelastic material, or the making of both of said sheets of elastic material. It is likewise contemplated that one of the carrier sheets may be substantially in- It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A subdividable prefabricated surgical splint comprising a plurality of elongate splint rods substantially circular incross section, a flexible carrier sheet, and adhesive means on one side of said sheet engaged by said rods bonding them in close side by side relationship, said splint rods being'disposed at one side of said carrier sheet and secured thereto solely by said adhesive. v

g 2. A splint as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the carrier sheet-is substantially inelastic.

V 3. A splint as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the adjacent edges'of the individual splint rods are disposed in abutting relationship when the carrier sheet is in a fiat position.

4. A splint as defined in and by claim 1 wherein each of said rods is bonded in'line contact to the carrier sheet.

5. A prefabricated subdividable surgical splint comprising a plurality of elongated splint elements substantially circular in cross section, a pair of flexible carrier sheets, and adhesive means on the inner side of each of said carrier sheets bonding said splint elements in close side by side relationship directly to and between said sheets.

6. A splint as defined in and by claim 5 wherein the carrier sheets are substantially inelastic.

'7. A splint as defined in and by claim 5 wherein the carrier sheets are substantially elastic.

8. A splint as defined in and by claim 5 wherein one carrier sheet is substantially inelastic and the other carrier sheet is elastic.

9. A splint as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the adjacent edges of the individual splint rods are disposed in abutting relationship when the carrier sheet is in fiat position, and wherein the carrier sheet is elastic.

LEO A. SMY'I'H.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

